Kenya Told to Produce Its Own Vaccines as Health Experts Warn Import Dependence Is a National Risk

Kenya Urged to Build Vaccine Capacity

By Bruno Aero Family Media Science Writer

Nairobi — Kenya has been urged to urgently establish a strong local vaccine manufacturing industry, with health sector leaders warning that the country’s heavy dependence on imported vaccines leaves it dangerously exposed to future disease outbreaks.

Speaking at the 16th Kenya Association of Scientists in Health (KASH) Conference in Nairobi, Kenya BioVax Institute Chief Executive Officer Dr. Wesley Rono said the country can no longer rely on foreign supplies for life-saving vaccines, especially after lessons learned during recent global health emergencies.

“It is time we start producing our own vaccines to avoid future outbreaks,” Dr. Rono said, noting that nearly 99 per cent of vaccines used in Kenya are imported  a situation he described as both unsustainable and a threat to national health security.

Dr. Rono explained that Kenya should not aim to jump immediately into complex production, but instead begin by developing capacity along the entire vaccine value chain, starting with basic manufacturing processes before scaling up to advanced production systems. He emphasized that financial sector reforms, sustained government support, and strategic investment will be necessary to make the transition successful.

He added that local production would also depend on partnerships with international agencies.

“We have partners such as UNICEF, which already procures large volumes of vaccines. It is important to ensure that what we manufacture locally is supported and taken up by development partners,” he said.

Local expertise available

Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Director General Prof. Elijah Songok said the country already possesses the scientific foundation required to support vaccine production.

As KEMRI, we have capacity locally, and we also have access to global expertise that can help strengthen skills in key areas, Prof. Songok said.

He noted that beginning with foundational manufacturing processes would not only improve the country’s readiness for future pandemics, but also strengthen the health system, expand scientific research, and create employment opportunities for young professionals.

Innovation must become industry

Also addressing the conference, Dr. Tom Kariuki, Chief Executive Officer of the Science for Africa Foundation, said Kenya has strong research and innovation potential but must now translate ideas into real industrial output.

As a country, we have enough innovation. What we need is to start from the basics and build steadily,  he said.

Health leaders at the conference agreed that building domestic vaccine manufacturing is no longer just a health sector issue but a national development priority. Beyond protecting citizens from disease outbreaks, they said local production could stimulate economic growth, grow the biotechnology sector, and position Kenya as a regional hub within Africa’s vaccine ecosystem.

The push for local manufacturing follows global supply disruptions experienced during recent pandemics, when many African countries struggled to access vaccines due to export restrictions and intense competition from wealthier nations.

Experts warned that unless Kenya invests now in skills development, infrastructure, financing, and regulatory systems, the country could face similar shortages in future health emergencies.

By starting with basic processes and scaling up gradually, they said, Kenya can build a resilient vaccine industry — one capable not only of protecting its own population but also supplying the wider East African region.